Dhoni managed senior players well: Kumble

TIL Desk Sports/ M S Dhoni had a phenomenal career as captain and one of the highlights of his leadership tenure was the apt handling of senior players in the team, said current India coach Anil Kumble who himself had made way for the wicket-keeper batsman to be Test captain in 2008. Dhoni succeeded Kumble as Test captain after the leg-spin legend announced his retirement midway into home series against Australia in 2008.

Kumble recalled the time when Dhoni was made captain in all three formats. “The first phase was probably easy for me because I was old, it was easy for me to say ‘MS take over’. It was difficult for me to continue at that time, the body was not willing but I thought it was the right time for me to leave as well. MS (Dhoni) was ready to take over Test captaincy,” said Kumble ahead of the first ODI against England here on Sunday.

Dhoni’s glorious tenure as captain began with the World T20 triumph in 2007. “From there to 2007 to 2017, 10 years of captaincy is phenomenal. It goes to show the capabilities of MS as a leader and also what he has been able to achieve during the transition phase and also when the seniors left as well, it is not easy coming into the team as captain and having so many senior players. He managed them really well.